HomeMy WebLinkAboutMeeting Minutes January 8 2026Paducah
Human Rights Commission
January 8, 2026, Meeting Minutes
Paducah City Hall
1st Floor, Suite 106
300 South 5th Street
P.O. Box 247
Paducah, KY 42002-
0247
(270) 444-8643/8644
Fax (270) 443-8680
TDD (270) 800-247-
2510
HR
Commissioners
Jana Dawson, Chair
Charles Gurley
Irhonda Lovelace
Rachel Robinson
Anthony Walton
Kimberly Yates
Board Members Present: Chair Commissioner Dawson, Commissioners Charles
Gurley, Rachel Robinson, and Anthony Walton
Board Member(s) Not Present: Commissioners Kimberly Yates and Irhonda Lovelace
Meeting called to order by Chair Commissioner Dawson at 5:06 p.m.
Roll Call by Daisha Johnson, Human Relations Coordinator, at 5:07 p.m.
Quorum established by Chair Commissioner Dawson at 5:08 p.m.
Invocation led by Commissioner Walton at 5:09 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance – 5:10 p.m.
Visitors – None
December 2025, Meeting Minutes reviewed with one correction noted for the Fair
Housing Event – April 14, 2026, should be April 16, 2026. Motion for Approval by
Commissioner Gurley with second approval by Commissioner Robinson and
unanimously approved.
School Presentation (Commissioner Yates) – Commissioner Yates reached out to
Paducah Tilghman High School regarding the Commission speaking at the school.
The school will follow up with Commissioner Yates in 2026.
Fairness & Justice Event (Commissioner Walton) – No success meeting with NAACP
Board to date. Chair Hernandez requested that Commissioner Walton reach out to
J.W. Cleary again to review possible collaboration with PHRC. (9/11/225 -
Commissioner Walton spoke to J.W. Cleary (NAACP) about PHRC collaborating with
them in the future. Commissioner Walton has committed to attending the next
NAACP meeting to establish a connection with NAACP for future projects.
Fair Housing Event (Commissioner Gurley) – Confirmed event will be April 16, 2026,
at Robert Cherry Civic Center. Commissioner Gurley will get food quotes.
Discussed having last year’s speaker again (Lacey) to update any changes from
2025. Proposed that guest speakers should also include someone from Board of
Realtors. Daisha Johnson will ask Carol with City Planning and Development to be
a guest speaker.
Paducah Pride Event (Commissioner Lovelace) – Paducah Pride Event is June 6, 2026.
Paducah Human Rights Commission
Meeting Minutes – January 8, 2026
Page 2
Paducah City Hall
1st Floor, Suite 106
300 South 5th Street
P.O. Box 247
Paducah, KY 42002-
0247
(270) 444-8643/8644
Fax (270) 443-8680
TDD (270) 800-247-
2510
HR Commission
Jana Dawson, Chair
Charles Gurley
Irhonda Lovelace
Rachel Robinson
Anthony Walton
Kimberly Yates
Juneteenth Event (Chair Commissioner Dawson) – No new updates as of 1/8/2026.
Chair Commissioner Dawson reached out to J.W. Cleary to set up a meeting to
discuss. She was informed that the Juneteenth committee would reconvene in
November/December 2025 to start discussing 2026 Juneteenth. Chair Commissioner
Dawson has committed to attending that meeting if granted the opportunity from
committee members.
Potluck – PHRC should arrive at 10:30 a.m. to prepare to-go plates and set up.
Commission voted for January 24, 2026, from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm for the 100-person
event to be held at the Christ Temple Church annex. It was agreed that we would set
up a table with PHRC material during the event. Commissioner Walton reached out
to Big Ed’s Restaurant for a food quote and agreed to share it with the Commission.
He stated that the quote was approximately $800.00.
Budget Report – There are three new expenses (two nameplates and one name tag).
The PHRC has a budget of $16,000 until June 30, 2026.
No update on this as of 1/14/2026 - The PHRC marketing material has been updated.
Daisha Johnson, Human Relations Coordinator, stated that she would forward
updated material to the Commission via email.
There will be training via Zoom on February 12, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
regarding the KY Civil Rights Act and the complaint process. Daisha Johnson will
forward the email regarding the training.
New PHRC member, Latoya Burton, will be introduced by Mayor Bray at February
2026, meeting
Meeting was adjourned at 5:59 p.m. with approval by Chair Commissioner Dawson, a
second approval by Commissioner Gurley and unanimously approved.
Paducah Human Rights Commission
Meeting Minutes – January 8, 2026
Page 2